The Transverse Crack Tension test revisited: An experimental and numerical study. (15th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scalici, T.; Pitarresi, G.; Catalanotti, G.; van der Meer, F.P.; Valenza, A.
• Is Part Of: Composite structures. Volume 158(2016)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2016-12-15
• Subjects: Delamination -- Fracture toughness -- Numerical analysis -- Experimental methods; Composite construction -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruct.2016.09.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-8223

Abstract

Abstract: Several problems arise when measuring the mode II interlaminar fracture toughness using a Transverse Crack Tension specimen; in particular, the fracture toughness depends on the geometry of the specimen and cannot be considered a material parameter. A preliminary experimental campaign was conducted on TCTs of different sizes but no fracture toughness was measured because the TCTs failed in an unacceptable way, invalidating the tests. A comprehensive numerical and experimental investigation is conducted to identify the main causes of this behaviour and a modification of the geometry of the specimen is proposed. It is believed that the obtained results represent a significant contribution in the understanding of the TCT test as a mode II characterization procedure and, at the same time, provide new guidelines to characterize the mode II crack propagation under tensile loads.